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Released 6 September 2011
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Ten
Years Later:
The
Salvation Army’s Response to The 9/11 Attacks
Wauwatosa,
WI (September 6, 2011) On September
11, 2001, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on passenger airliners left
thousands dead and hundreds of thousands more in need. The Salvation Army was
closely involved with the recovery process for survivors in New
York, Pennsylvania and Washington following the
tragic events of 9/11.
Arriving within a
half-hour of the
first plane hitting the North Tower of the World
Trade Center
in New York City,
The Salvation Army was one of the first relief organizations to arrive on the
scene at “Ground Zero” and provided extensive support for relief
workers and
volunteers. The Army continued to support recovery efforts throughout the
months-long clean-up process. In the months and years that followed, The
Salvation Army assisted thousands of people impacted by the September 11
attacks with practical assistance as well as spiritual and emotional care.
Major
Activities:
- The
American public donated $90 million to The Salvation Army to respond to
the 9/11 attacks.
- The
Salvation Army spent all $90 million on 9/11-related services.
- The
majority of the money was spent within the first year following the
attacks.
- Donations
were primarily used for practical items and services including: food for
rescue workers and volunteers, steel-toed boots, socks, eye drops, rest
stations and other items related to the clean-up at Ground Zero.
- Meals and
relief services were also offered at the Pentagon and at the crash site
of United Airlines Flight #93.
- The
Salvation Army continued to serve the immediate needs of those who were
displaced following the attacks in a variety of ways, including rent and
utility assistance, job placement and referrals for health care
needs.
- For
instance, the Army worked directly with landlords, utility companies and
other vendors in New York City
to pay necessary bills for survivors, ensuring they were not evicted and
that the lights and phone were kept on.
- The
Salvation Army allocated resources toward long-term assistance programs,
including an extensive $4 million crisis counseling program for those
impacted
by the tragedy which served nearly 6,000 people.
- At its
peak, the Army was working with 1,400 open cases at any given
time.
- The
program remained active until January 1, 2007.
- In total,
the Greater New York Division of The Salvation Army served more than
59,000 people through 9/11-related, long-term assistance
programs. Services provided by The Salvation
Army’s World Trade Center Recovery Program included:
- Clothing
and Food Assistance
- Crisis
Counseling and Group Therapy
- Child
Care
- Employment
Training and Placement
- FEMA
Filing Assistance
- Final
Expenses – Funeral/Burial
- Financial
Assistance and Counseling
- Healthcare
Referral Assistance
- Housing
and Utilities Assistance
- Homelessness
Services (Homeward Bound and other programs)
- Immigration
Assistance
- Legal
Assistance
- Public
Benefits Assistance
- Small
Business Services
- Spiritual
Counseling
- Substance
Abuse Counseling
- Transportation
Assistance
- In
response to the simultaneous attack at the Pentagon, The National Capital
and Virginia Division of The Salvation Army:
- Provided
aid and comfort to relief workers and survivors at the Pentagon site,
serving meals and drinks while offering spiritual counseling and
support.
- Assisted more
than 17,000 survivors and their families with direct social service aid,
allocating in excess of $7 million.
- Following
the crash of United Flight #93 outside Shanksville, PA,
The Western Pennsylvania Division of The Salvation Army responded to the
needs of relief workers and victims’ families at the crash site
by:
- Serving
nearly 20,000 meals
- Performing
5 worship services
- Providing
a total of 13,000 volunteer hours
- Because
The Salvation Army already provides all of these services 365 days a year
throughout the country, it had a ready and willing pool of social workers
and counselors available to assist with the needs of the community in the
aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
# # #
About
The Salvation Army
The
Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church
established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without
discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million
Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the
broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the
hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to
the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for
underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support
those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.
For
more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org, http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org,
www.facebook.com/salvationarmyus
a or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.